The finalists for this year's Powys Business Awards, praised for their "exceptional calibre", have been announced by the organisers.

The awards, organised by the Mid Wales Manufacturing Group (MWMG), aim to highlight successful businesses within Powys across numerous sectors.

12 category awards will be awarded, including the distinct Powys Business of the Year and Judges Award.

The much-anticipated ceremony will be held at Dering Lines, Brecon on October 4.

A new addition to the lineup is the Business in the Community Award which recognises businesses that give back to their local communities.

This award is sponsored by Radnor Hills, the winner of the Powys Business of the Year award last year.

Layla Bennett from Hawksdrift, Cwmbach, a previous winner of the Young Entrepreneur Award in 2009, will be returning to the Powys Business Awards as a finalist in the Micro Business Award (less than 10 employees) this year.

That particular award is sponsored by The County Times.

Business newcomers, Greenhouse Café & Kitchen, Garthmyl and Stashed Products Ltd, and Abermule are first-time entrants and have made the final in three categories each.

Multiple companies, including Heartwood Saunas, Machynlleth, Espanaro Ltd, Newtown; Reeco Automation Ltd, Newtown; Charcroft, Llanwrtyd Wells and Hilltop, Newtown, are listed as finalists in two categories each.

MWMG’s group manager Ceri Stephens said: "We are thrilled with the exceptional calibre of entrants from across the county for this year’s Powys Business Awards.

"Each submission showcases the remarkable talent, innovation and dedication within our community.

"We are proud to celebrate these outstanding achievements and look forward to honouring the best businesses in Powys.

"The judges will have an incredibly difficult task ahead of them as they travel the breadth of the county interviewing the finalists, culminating on the awards evening in Brecon."

The title of Powys Business of the Year, sponsored by Powys County Council, will be chosen from the category winners.

A Judges Award is also up for grabs, to acknowledge an achievement or individual who has come to the judge's attention during their visits.

Full list of Powys Business Awards finalists

  • The finalists in the Business in the Community Award, sponsored by Radnor Hills are Hilltop, Newtown; Morland, Welshpool; Charcroft, Llanwrtyd Wells and Woosnam and Davies, Llanidloes.
  • Finalists in the Start-up Business Award, sponsored by EvaBuild are Abermule Inn, Abermule; Greenhouse Café & Kitchen and Stashed Products Ltd.
  • In the Technology & Innovation Award category, sponsored by Aberystwyth University the finalists are Espanaro Ltd, Reeco Automation Ltd and Atherton Bikes, Machynlleth.
  • The finalists up for the People Development Award, sponsored by NPTC Group of Colleges are Hilltop Honey, Newtown, Newmor Wallcoverings, Welshpool and EOM Electrical Contractors Ltd.
  • As for Newtown. Growth Award, sponsored by WR Partners the finalists are Meadow Springs Country & Leisure Park, Trefeglwys; Beacon Foods Ltd, Brecon and Charcroft.
  • Up for the Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by CellPath are Charlotte Williams, Squeaky Clean, Machynlleth; Lewis King, Greenhouse Café & Kitchen and Elliot Tanner, Stashed Products.
  • The finalists for the Sole Trader Award, sponsored by MWMG are Seren Handmade, Bwlch-y-ffridd, Newtown; Belan Bluebell Woods, Llanidloes and SkincareBOOtique, Welshpool.
  • As for the Micro Business Award (less than 10 employees) sponsored by The County Times, the finalists are Rural Foodies Limited - home of Coco Pzazz, Llanidloes; Hawksdrift Limited and Lakeside Boathouse, Llandrindod Wells.
  • In contention for the Small Business Award (under 30 employees) sponsored by Welshpool Print Group are Greenhouse Cafe & Kitchen, Heartwood Saunas and Stashed Products Ltd.
  • Up for the Small Business Growth Award, sponsored by Cellar Drinks are Espanaro Ltd, Reeco Automation Ltd and The Clever Baggers, Llanymynech.
  • As for the Social Enterprise/ Charity Award, sponsored by Myrick Training Services, the finalists are Newtown Food Surplus, Newtown; BB – Sustainable Tourism CIC, Brecon; East Radnorshire Care, Presteigne and Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, Newtown.
  • Finally, the finalists in the Excellence in Sustainability Award, sponsored by the Welsh Government are The National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Dan-yr-Ogof, Abercraf; Wipak UK Ltd, Welshpool and Heartwood Saunas.